Early returns: Managerial stock market report

May 6, 2013
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Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was given a team with the highest payroll in National League history but has watched it start 13-17 while dealing with several key injuries. / Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

The manager with the most financial security in baseball, Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels, is also in the most danger of being fired.

The manager with the least amount of financial security, Walt Weiss of the Colorado Rockies, perhaps is in the best position for an extension.

And with the way life is going these days in the Los Angeles area, perhaps the best trade to straighten out both teams is a simple swap of managers: Scioscia to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Don Mattingly.

Crazy times, and maybe crazy ideas, in this impatient Twitter age of ours, where everyone - well, except those lovable and god-awful Houston Astros - want to win now.

If not, someone is bound to pay a price.

Where else would you find a division race that not only might dictate the course of a franchise but also determine the fate of their managers, with four National League East managers all in the final years of their contract?

There are 11 lame-duck managers in all, and the way this season is going, only a handful look like they'll be spared the indignity of that unemployment line.

We also know that the Angels have never had a worse start (11-20) in franchise history.

The Angels, with a pitching staff that Scioscia on Sunday termed "absolutely awful," are off to play the Astros this week - the human bye at 8-24 - and the Chicago White Sox (12-17). If they don't return to the West Coast with a winning record on the trip, Angels owner Arte Moreno might force Scioscia to take a Greyhound bus back.

Scioscia, in his 14th season and baseball's longest-tenured manager, needs a quick turnaround to save his job.

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Down: Don Mattingly

A wonderful man who has been a much better manager than many envisioned.

Yet despite having the largest NL payroll in history at $218 million, the Dodgers have managed to lose 12 of 18 games in their own division. Sure, they've been ravaged with injuries, but who hasn't?

The moment Mattingly's request for that contract extension was rejected this spring, he knew his fate depended on the Dodgers' success. He will be given every chance to turn around the Dodgers' season. But if not, he'll be out the door, while Scioscia might be the one knocking.

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Down: Charlie Manuel

He's the most successful manager in franchise history.

But the Philadelphia Phillies have aged before our very eyes, and that goes for Manuel, 69, too.

Manuel has made it quite clear he has no intention of retiring after this season. If the Phillies (14-18) don't reach the playoffs, he might have no choice.

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Even: Terry Collins

The New York Mets aren't supposed to be contenders. Not yet. Still, ownership wants to see improvement if it is going to commit to Collins, who is in his third season with the club.

If the Mets don't improve, would you put it past them to fire Collins and hire the one manager who could steal the back-page headlines away from the Yankees?

Yep, Mattingly.

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Up: Ned Yost

The Kansas City Royals are built for their first playoff berth in 28 years, and Yost is making the most of the opportunity. He rode his team hard this spring, and they've responded to the tune of a 17-11 record. If the season ended today, the Royals would finally be in the playoffs.

The way these Royals are playing, the front office might not wait until the All-Star break before handing out that extension, making sure the Atlanta Braves don't get any ideas about bringing Yost back home.

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Down: Eric Wedge

Patience has run out in Seattle, where the Mariners are drawing their smallest crowds since those ugly days in the Kingdome. The Mariners need to at least be competitive, and might need to finish with a winning record, to save Wedge.

Wedge, realizing he has to win or else, cut loose and screamed at his team a week ago, and it responded by winning seven of 10 games. If the Mariners soon revert to their losing ways, Wedge will be screaming out the door.

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Even: Fredi Gonzalez

One of the most likable guys in the game. He had the Atlanta Braves playing out of their minds the first two weeks, going 12-1, only to have Gonzalez losing his mind watching them go 6-11 the last two weeks.

If the Braves win a playoff berth, Gonzalez stays. If they miss the playoffs, all bets are off.

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Up: Ron Gardenhire

The Minnesota Twins finished in last place for the second consecutive year last season, and Gardenhire's coaching staff paid the price with all but pitching coach Rick Anderson being fired or reassigned. The message was clear: Win now, or Gardy would be the next one gone.

The Twins have precious little major league talent and are years from contending, but if Minnesota (13-14) can manage to hang around .500, Gardenhire will be rewarded with another extension.

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Down: Davey Johnson

Johnson took a one-year contract extension after winning the NL manager of the year award. It's assumed that win, or lose, this will be Johnson's final year as Washington Nationals manager, moving back into his consultant's role next season.

The Nationals' finish this year will determine the size of that going-away party.

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Up: Joe Giradi

Yes sir, he's in the final year of his contract. No sir, he's not going anywhere. If the New York Yankees earn a playoff berth with their injury issues, it will be his finest hour.

Up: Jim Leyland

Leyland has the horses, smells the finish line and is managing the Detroit Tigers like a man who will decide himself when it's time to leave, perhaps with another World Series ring on his hand.

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Up: Walt Weiss

Taking a page out of the old Dodgers playbook with Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda, Weiss received a one-year contract in his first managerial gig.

If the Rockies' 18-13 record - including an MLB-best 14-4 record against teams with losing records - is any indication, Weiss might be managing as long as Alston or Lasorda, too.